Dejan Lovren

Spurs have reportedly decided against rivalling Liverpool’s £25million bid for Adam Lallana but one Southampton star Mauricio Pochettino will be keen to bring with him to White Hart Lane is centre-back Dejan Lovren.

The Croatia international joined the St. Mary’s ranks from Lyon last summer in an £8.5million deal and has since proved to be a major coup. Being the only addition to an otherwise unchanged backline from last season, the Saints have finished the year with the fifth-best goals conceded record and the fourth-most clean sheets in the Premier League.

The 24 year-old’s individual performances have been equally impressive, with his average of 2.7 interceptions per match only bettered by three Premier League centre-backs.

Lovren’s greatest strengths remain his relative pace and ability to attack the ball, and in that regard, his potential partnership with the forward-thinking Jan Vertonghen would strike a delicious equilibrium.

Bringing the £15million-rated Croatian to North London is a smart move from Pochettino, but ESPN claim Liverpool are prepared to match any offer.